Do you remember the most serene place you’ve ever been to? Was it on a warm beach with the sand between your toes? Was it curled up on your couch or favorite reading nook as you were riveted by an exciting new book? Or perhaps you’re a hot chocolate or hot tea kind of person…and you found your peace and quiet in a soothing hot beverage…ah…peace.
Have you found peace today? Perhaps your peace came within a still solitary five minutes within your office or workspace…maybe it came to you just before you had to pull your tired butt out of bed. Where ever or whenever you have found peace cherish it, relish it.
There is peace still to be found here on this earth. Peace comes in many shapes and sizes and in many platforms and environments. Take the time to find peace today. If you are searching for it, my prayer is that you will find it.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry…He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:1,3)
I have been humming a tune for a few days now. Songs seem to resonate within my heart and soul. Sometimes it’s like I have a ipod in my brain that keeps reshuffling songs. It’s almost scary at times that I can recite song lyrics I learned as a child. But more recently, the tune that’s been in my ear and my head is a tune U2 began singing and still sings today at the end of their concerts. It’s a song that comes right out of the Bible. It is found in Psalm 40, a psalm of David – the man after God’s own heart. David describes within this epic poem the holiness and salvation of God. How God has rescued David’s life out of the pit and has given him a new song to sing which includes love and praise to the Almighty for what He has done. It is a new song, yet a song that still needs to be sung by all of us…
There are people all around the World longing to sing a new song. It is an old song, an ancient song, yet with it brings new life, new hope, and a fresh start. There are people all around the World longing to find a peace that passes all understanding, a peace that penetrates their troubles in life and provides relief. Perhaps you’re in need of this new song today as well.
When we consider the songs this world has to offer, we will eventually come up short and unsatisfied. All of earth’s wealth could never compare to the glorious riches that God the Father can provide to us. He will give us a new song to sing. He will gladly put these words in our mouth and lift us up out of the muck and mire. He is most definitely worthy to be praised!
Will you sing a new song? Are you prepared to encounter the Creator of the Universe who can lift you up from our desolate pit? Perhaps it’s time to stop humming the songs of the earth which will evaporate and disolve like snow, and ask God for an eternal song, which will last for all time.
Give way to the rising of the sea
Grasping and hoping to finally break free
Throw a stone in the ocean
And sink beneath its tides
You’re so close to home
Where all the shadows hide.
Don’t close your eyes
Or turn away from this
Your heaven breaks the surface
and longing for first kiss
Give way, dear soul to the sea
And breathe free, breathe free.
It might sound like the beginning of a good joke spiked with plenty of political jargon and party stereotypes but the truth of the matter is that this is often the case. Although it is good to recognize what the differences are within political ideologies it is also most helpful to remember if both are Christ-followers the later should be of the utmost importance. Before and even after our political allegiance must come our relationship with the Almighty. If we have these priorities backwards (politics first, relationship with Christ second) then we will ultimately face a difficult road ahead which will either lead us to a reshuffling of priorities or taking exit lane on one of them.
County, state or even city governing politics in church is a very tricky subject of which I will not delve too deeply into within this entry, I will leave that for another day. But is there a place for politics within the church? Of course there is, but be mindful that God’s divine authority and governance should always precede that of any other political affiliation.
With that being said, do I believe there to be true practicing Christ-followers within both political camps? Absolutely! But even within that self-imposed question I find the crux of the issue, there is a division. There is a line in the sand here that I think begs discussing. Has it ever been God’s desire for His people to be so divided over earthly things including politics? NO! Jesus even prayed over and for His disciples (John 17:21) so that “they may be one Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Naturally there is a context here, which we must understand. Jesus was praying for a select group of people as His message would be spread throughout the earth in their unity and mission. But has that mission ceased since their calling so long ago? NO! We are still called by God to fulfill the great commission! (Matt 28:16-20)
So what am I getting at in this simple discourse today? I have three main discussions to challenge us with today:
1) Stop the division among the church!
When we draw lines in the sand around each other, and say cruel things about people who do not see the world as we see it we are guilty of drawing lines in the sand. There becomes this “Us vs. Them” mentality within us. We don’t see a unified body any longer, instead we see a splintered body who cannot get along. Can you see how this might benefit our true enemy? Can you see how Satan might truly enjoy twisting us into political pretzels over one or two issues and cause us to hate our fellow believer in Christ?
1 Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” This passage says nothing about lording your opinions over another, nor does it say we draw lines in the sand, but it does remind us to be “like-minded”. So how do we once again become like-minded?
2) Common Ground:
Yes there may be political areas in which we may never agree upon. But what are the things that we do agree upon? Do we both believe Jesus was God’s One and only Son? YES. Do we believe that we have been redeemed by His blood and that because of Him we can find eternal life? YES. Do we believe that there is still a mission to fulfill in this world for the lost, the sin-sick, and the poor? YES. I believe we have common ground even if we cannot see eye to eye on some very specific issues within the political sphere of our world. If we are to become like-minded once again then we have to stop demonizing those who we feel do not share our same political beliefs.
3) Break down the barriers with helpful, loving discourse.
Ephesians 2:14 “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…”
I recognize each verse that I have quoted has specific contexts but it still has something very powerful for us to apply to our own lives today. We may not see eye to eye, but this shouldn’t stop us from discussing important issues together of which we share different views. Be mindful that we don’t fall into the traps of division by name calling and condescension either. We cannot afford to appear superior in anyway towards one another as we humbly discuss our differences. When we are able to sit together, division lines are crossed and barriers, that have been erected, can be torn down. Helpful and loving discourse, with Christ at the center, can lead us into deeper fellowship with one another even if we don’t always see eye to eye.
Jesus said; “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Is this over simplistic? Probably. But I believe it to be true. Far too many Christ-followers have aligned themselves to specific political parties and have forgotten ultimately in whose authority we live and serve under. If we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up. May that be our call to unification in the body of Christ, as we seek to work together instead of tear each other apart.
Today our dog decided to play
“Hurdle the cat”
And so he leapt
Springing high into the air
Soaring high above
In a K9 kind of grace
Four legs splayed outward
Ears flapping with the strong
Winds from the upper atmosphere.
He cleared the cat
By a good two feet
But did you know that
Cats actually hate the game:
“Hurdle the cat”?
It’s true
Because her fur was raised
And not in a flattering way
much to our dog’s dismay
her teeth were bared
And she assumed
The “I’m going to kill you”
Stance.
Needless to say,
Our dog has now retired
From “hurdle the cat”…
At least until tomorrow.
The pastor said God was everywhere
And so I’m looking for him.
They say he’s in the world today
But I’m not seein much of him
In how we treat each other
In how wars are fought
In how innocent blood is spilt
You see I’m looking for God
But I’m having doubt’s he’s here…
I went looking in a church too
To find out where he’d been
Talked to couple of folks there
Full of wind in their sails
But their anchors weren’t pulled
Going round in circles, it seems.
Is God here in this church
With crimson window panes
And creaking pews with people
In them who are equally creaking?
I’m not so sure…
I am looking for God
But the question is has he been looking for me?
Or am I just blind as a bat?
Am I reciting all the wrong jargon?
Am I wearing the wrong clothes…
No, God doesn’t care about that stuff,
Does he care for me?
Look, all I want to be is genuine
All I want to do is help and hope and love
And leap in places that faith will carry me…
I’m looking for God, have you seen him?
What’s he like?
Will you please tell me?
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” – 1 Peter 3:15-16
I was listening to music on the radio as I was dropping my children off at school this morning. Minding my own business, when God decided to pop in for a visit. Perhaps it had been a while. Perhaps, if this was a time for confessions I might admit to getting caught up in work and other things…perhaps.
Isn’t it funny how God can speak to us in so many different ways? We can go to an art gallery and suddenly a painting of flowers will strike a chord in our hearts and we would know that God had something to do with it. Or perhaps we see God in other people as the driver just ahead of you casually pays for your toll as well…God was there. Or even in the midst of utter despair, pain, hurt, loss, we might read something that gently and quietly reminds us that God is present with us. He is here with you now as you read this…do you believe that? I do. His presence is with us always, even to the ends of the earth, even when all hell breaks loose around us, even when we are blind to His passing…He is there!
…back to the music on the radio…
I was sitting in my van and two songs back to back touch my heart in a way that I couldn’t deny His presence there. The first was a song by Mumford and Sons called “Below my feet”. It wasn’t so much the entire song but the refrain that captured my heart for a moment:
” Keep the earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn”
As I heard those words I pondered that last sentence; “Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn”…but I said it like a prayer to the Lord. Lord, keep my eyes to serve and my hands to learn…. I didn’t lose control of the vehicle but I could feel His presence there and I may as well have been in church.
“I may as well have been in church!”
The very next song that came on was a song by the David Crowder Band called “You never let go”. Its words go like this:
When clouds veil the sun and disaster comes
Oh my soul, oh my soul
When waters rise and hope takes flight
Oh my soul, oh my soul, oh my soul
Ever faithful, ever true
You, I know, You never let go
You never let go, You never let go
You never let go
You never let go, You never let go
You never let go
When clouds brought rain and disaster came
Oh my soul, oh my soul
When waters rose and hope had flown
Oh my soul, oh my soul, oh my soul
Ever faithful, ever true
You, I know, You never let go
I was in church in my van…God was very present. He reminded me of just how important it is to not only serve Him but to always look for Him in every moment of my day. He’s here right now wanting so desperately to fellowship and commune with you and me. And His promise to us is that He will never let go.
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”…“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13, 15-16)
Jesus looked at His followers and asked them a detailed demographic question. It was a survey of sorts. “Who do people say the Son of man is?” In other words who do they think I am? Jesus, more than likely already knew what others thought of Him and who He might be, but He asked His disciples. Why did He do that? Why ask if He already knew the answers?
Perhaps the reason Jesus asked His disciples this question was to help them finally pin down who Jesus was in their hearts and minds. He first asks them about how others viewed Him. It is an the greater perspective, but then Jesus brings it back to them when He said, “But who do YOU say that I am?” Notice the personal question. Now the tables have turned. Now the disciples are glancing at each other hoping someone will answer first. It is one of the most pivotal moments in their spiritual education as Jesus’ disciples. This one solitary moment of internal reflection. It is a moment that causes each disciple to carefully inspect what He has done and what He has said. For but a moment, doubt and worry must have clouded their minds. For but a moment each individual, not the collective, considered the right words to say to Jesus. It was mere moments but it could have been a lifetime.
Is it no surprise that Peter is the one to speak? He was the disciples that climbed out of the boat when all of the others waited and watched Jesus walking on the waves. The same Peter who seemingly dove head first into anything he did. It was all or nothing with Peter. So Peter speaks up and nails Jesus’ identity for the group gathered there. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God“. Can you say hashtag #nailedit ? Peter solidifies for the rest of the disciples as he identifies Jesus. It’s been nearly three years that they have been together, didn’t they already know? Didn’t they already trust THE Rabbi?
I think the question here that begs to be asked for us today is this: “Who do we think Jesus is?” Can we quickly respond as Peter did? Can we identify Jesus as God’s Son and Messiah to us as well? Is He your Messiah?
You see I believe there is a big difference between knowing Jesus and trusting Jesus! James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.” You could substitute the word ‘believe’ for the word ‘know’. Even the demons know Jesus. That is a big difference from fully trusting in Him though. Trusting Jesus means that we have to let go of our preconceived notions. It means that we have to relinquish our self-reliance. It means that we have to place our faith in something other than ourselves or something seen…but in the unseen.
Do you trust the Son of God? Have you let go of your casual understanding of Him? Are you prepared to delve into the waters of faith? Don’t just settle for knowing Jesus, trust Him also! Peter declared boldly “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”; may we have this same boldness in our faith to do likewise today!
-Just a thought for today.
Simply trusting every day; Trusting through a stormy way; Even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly, Trusting as the days go by, Trusting Him, whate’er befall, Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Pastor's Ponderings 